This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - With seven seconds remaining in regulation and down by a point to favored Maryland, Utah had the ball and destiny squarely where it needed to be - at the foul line in the hands of senior guard Shona Thorburn.
Thorburn missed the first, yet composed herself to bury the second, sending the regional final into overtime. However, Utah's Cinderella run through the NCAA Tournament was thwarted Monday night in The Pit by the Terrapins' hulking front line and a sharpshooting guard who took control in the extra five-minute period as Maryland won 75-65.
The victory sent the Terps to their first Final Four since 1989.
"We couldn't keep the mass off the glass," Utah coach Elaine Elliott said about not just the overtime, but the final five minutes of regulation.
Second-seeded Maryland (32-4), which had to battle a team-wide stomach virus as well as a resolute Utah team, won the battle of the boards 53-39. The Terps' twin post players, 6-foot-4 Laura Harper and 6-foot-2 Crystal Langhorne, scored eight of Maryland's 12 points in overtime. Maryland guard Kristi Toliver proved the difference with 28 points, including six three-point baskets.
Despite the loss, Utah (27-7), the No. 5 seed out of the Mountain West Conference, proved it belonged with a team from the vaunted ACC. Utah senior Kim Smith scored 16 of her team-high 17 points in the second-half explosion and pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds.